River-gods in the Milesian colonies on the coastline of Propontis and Pontus Euxinus: myths, cults and iconographic depictions
River-gods in the Milesian colonies on the coastline of Propontis and Pontus Euxinus: myths, cults and iconographic depictions

Summary/Abstract: We propose here to address the mythological traditions related to the river-gods (Aisepos, Ryndakos, Istros, Tyras, Borysthenes, Phasis) in the pantheons of the Milesian colonies located on the coastlines of Propontis and Pontus Euxinus, the cults devoted to these river deities, as well as their iconographic depictions. The investigation is based on the premise that river deities were both the subject of beliefs and ritual practices and also closely linked to the natural environment. The research here relies on the analysis and interpretation of the information provided by literary sources, as well as epigraphic and numismatic documents. Deification of main waterways occurred only after the establishment of the Greek colonies on the coastline of Propontis and Pontus Euxinus. A number of river deities such as Istros, Tyras, Borysthenes and Phasis had probably been incorporated into the pantheons of eponymous polis sometime between the mid-6th and mid-4th century BC.

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